Letter bos



2 Sheets--Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

' J. H. MGDONALD.

LETTER BOX.

Patented Aug. '7

v (No Model.)

Wmesses.'

J. H. MGDONALD.

LETTER B0X.

Sheets- Sheet 2.

Patented Aug. 7, 1888.

`WHMI'WIVMHJWWMM nirrn TATns A'rnN tric@ LETTER-BOX.

ELPECEEFECATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 387,242. dated August '7, 1888.

Allnlication filed November 3, 1887. Serial No. 254,206. (No model.)

T0 @ZZ whom, it may concern.'

Be it known that I, JOSEPH H. MoDoNALD, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Boxes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

rlhis invention relates to mailboxes.

In mail-boxes now in common use the aperture for the deposit of mail matter is necessarily made very small in order to prevent abstraction of the matter within the box by other than the authorized collector, which consequently restricts the use of the box to the accommodation of letters and small packages, while at the same time the construction of the box affords the Inail but small protection from the weather.

The object of the present invention is to provide a receptacle for letters and packages of various sizes, one in which matter in the interior cannot be abstracted through the drop-opening, in which the contents will be fully protected from the weather, and one which will afford a simple, cheap, safe, and commodions mail-box.

The invention consists in a mail-box the opening to which is guarded by an exterior and an interior cover at opposite ends of the drop-opening, so arranged that movement of the outer cover will immediately operate the inner one, whereby the inner compartment is always kept closed.

Furthermore, the invention consists in a mailbox having a main compartment for the reception of mail matter, and a second compartment or drop-opening into which the mail is lirst deposited and through which it passes to the main compartment, the second compartment being provided with a cover at its upper end and a pivoted plate at its lower end, and with a sliding plate by which the pivoted plate may be caused to act as a temporary bottom to the second compartment and close the opening to the main compartment while the cover is raised.

Furthermore, the invention consists, in a mail-box, in the combination, with a main receptacle, of a smaller compartment provided with a pivoted cover at its upper end and a pivoted plate at its lower end, a sliding plate having a lug or lugs atits upper end provided with slots, being engaged by a pin in said cover, and its lower end engaging the pivoted plate, whereby upward movement of' the cover will cause the pivoted plate to close the lower end of the smaller compartment, and a reverse movement of the cover will release said pivoted plate and permit it to fall to its normal position for the purpose of depositing its con tents into the lower compartment.

Furthermore, the invention consists in the combination, with the main receptacle of a mail-box, of a second compartment provided with a pivoted cover, said cover having a lug extending from it, carrying a pin, a vertical ly-sliding plate having slotted lugs extend ing from it, the slots of these lugs being engaged by the pin carried by the cover, and a pivoted plate hung near the lower end of the compartment, said plate being provided with a flange, against which the sliding plate bears, whereby movement of the cover to open the compartment above will cause said compartment to be closed below at its opposite end.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of the specification, in which like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts, Figure l represents a side elevation of a mail-box constructed in accordance with my invention, the upper portion being in section to show the arrangement ofthe covers of the drop-opening, the position of the covers when raised for the purpose of depositing a letter or package being indicated by dotted lines. Fig. 2 represents a front elevation of the same. Fig. 3 represents a perspective view of a portion of the outer cover of the box. Fig. 4C represents a perspective View of the plate at the lower or inner end of the drop-opening, and Fig. 5 represents a perspective view of the sliding plate which operates the lower cover.

In the drawings A, indicates the main portion of the box, its shape and structure being preferably rectangular and forming the main receptacle or compartment for the deposit of mail matter. At the lower end of one side of the box is provided a door, a, hinged to lugs extending from the bottom of the box. This door is provided with areshaped sides a, extending inward and bearing closely against the sides of the box, the hinge forming the center from which the arc is struck. The curved edge of each side has formed upon it a projection, a2, which, when the door has been IOO IOS

swung down upon its hinges, catches against the side of the box `just above the door-open.- ing and holds the door in a horizontal position while the collector is removing the contents. Just above the door is formed an overhanging eave or flange, al, for the purpose of preventing entrance of rain or snow. This dooris further provided with a lock, the purpose of which is obvious.

At the top ofthe box is provided thedropopening B, extending the entire width of the box and communicating with its interior, which opening is covered by a rectangular casing, b, forming a passageway for the introduction of matter to be deposited in the main compartment, the top of the casing having pivoted upon it a lid or cover, b', the outer side of which has a curved depending flange, bl, which, when the drop-opening is closed, fits snugly upon a curved portion, b, of the casing b. The cover is also provided with a lug or short arm, bl, extending rearward from it and carrying a pin, bl, which extends laterally from each side ofthe arm, for a purpose hereinafter set forth. At the lower end of the passage forming the drop-opening is pivoted a cover, b, consisting` of a flat plate, bl, having a short iiange, bl, formed upon it at its pivotal part or axis about midway between its ends, and extending thence at right angles to the plane ofthe plate bl. Vheu the upper lid is closed, the lower cover or plate by its own weight hangs vertically from its pivot.

Just above the flange bs and moving vertically in a small casing, Il", is a plate, blo, having extending from its upper end two lugs or projections, b, having slots b, engaged by the projecting ends ofthe pin bl. The casing in whichthe plate blO movesis formed with the casing b, and is so constructed that it serves as a guide-bed for the plate bl". A piece, b, serves as a guide or stay block. All the moving parts except the outer cover, b', of the dropopening are thus placed upon the interior of the box, securely housed and protected from injury,while they occupy but a small amount of space.

When the cover b is raised for the purpose of depositing a letter or package, the arm b* upon its rear edge will be depressed, the cover thus acting as a lever, and the pin b5, moving in the slots b, will cause the plate blo to descend, its vertical movement being insured by means of the block bl, secured within the casing and bearing against the face of the plate, holding it against the rear wall of the casing. In its downward movement the end ot' the plate bears against the flange bg, forcing it downward and causing the plate bl to rise until it covers the bottom ofthe drop-opening l), the plate thus forming a temporary bottom to the compartment b while the cover is raised. As soon as the cover is allowed to fall into position over the opening, the plate bl im mediately drops to its normal position and the contents of the smaller compartment, b, is deposited within the main compartment. The

movement of the cover b and plate bl being simultaneous, the main compartment is at all times closed, or sufciently closed to prevent the removal of its contents, this being further insured by the flange bl upon the door,which rises above the top of thelcasing only when the plate bl has moved sufficiently far partially to close the lower end of the upper compartment. Thistlangeuponthe frontdoor,together with side flanges, et'fectually prevents the cntranee of rain or snow and affords ample protection to the interior of the box.

It is obvious that a mail-box of such construction isl simple and economical, comprising but few parts, and will afford ample protection to mail matter from the weather and from theft.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a mail box, the combination, with a main compartment, of a second compartment, in which the matter is first deposited -and through which it passes to the main compartment,said second compartment being provided with a cover at its upper end and a movable plate at or near its lower end actuated by movement of the cover, whereby said plate may be caused to act as a temporary bottom to said second compartment and close the opening to the main compartment, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a mail-box, the combination, with a main receptacle, of asecond compartment, said second compartment being pro vided with a pivoted cover at its upper end and a pivoted y plate at its lower end, a sliding plate having a lug or lugs at its upper end provided with slots,being engaged by a pin in said cover and its lower end engaging the pivoted plate, whereby upward movement of the cover will canse the pivoted plate to close the lower end of the smaller compartment, and reverse movement of' the cover will release said pivoted plate and permit it to fall to its normal position, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a mailbox, the combination, with a main receptacle, of a second compartment provided with a pivoted cover, said cover having IOO IIO

a lug extending from it carrying a pin, a ver- 

